Leeds United issue statement to apologise for Derby County ‘spygate’ and confirm club will speak to Marcelo Bielsa

Leeds United will “look to work” with head coach Marcelo Bielsa after he admitted to sending a member of his staff to spy on Derby County’s training session.

Bielsa apologised after Friday night’s 2-0 victory, admitting that the furore surrounding the staff member who was identified at Derby’s training ground on Thursday overshadowed the match that kept Leeds at the top of the Championship.

But Bielsa’s apology only went as far as saying sorry for the reaction, given that he could not say that he won’t look to do it again given that spying on opposition training sessions is common ground in Argentina.

However, Leeds United issued a statement in the wake of the scandal to reveal that club owner Andrea Radrizzani has personally apologised to Derby counterpart Mel Morris, and that they will speak with the backroom staff to convey what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour.

“Following comments made by Marcelo Bielsa yesterday the club will look to work with our head coach and his staff to remind them of the integrity and honesty which are the foundations that Leeds United is built on,” a Leeds statement said on Saturday.

“Our owner Andrea Radrizzani has met with Derby County’s owner Mel Morris to formally apologise for Marcelo’s actions.

“We will make no further comment on this matter.”

The former Argentina and Chile coach insisted it was not his intention to gain an advantage in a lengthy explanation that saw him admit it is something he has done for a number of years.

"I'm not trying to justify anything," he said. "I've just explained why I feel I'm not a person who cheats and why I accept any reaction this behaviour creates.

"Things are as English football says. I have to respect the habits and traditions of this country.

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"I would accept any sanction the club takes against me and any sanction the federation takes against me, and also the judgment of Derby County.

"This episode affects me. Of course the win is important. The only thing I'm going to apologise for is to have contaminated a football game with this subject.

"If I was a child, I would say I won't do it again, but I wouldn't feel right responding like this and would lose credibility.

"I won't say that I won't do it again. It's a childish position to answer like that."

The Football Association is investigating the matter and while Lampard joked the three points should be reversed, he went on to suggest the governing body needs to take firm action.

"It's not for me to say what happens," he said. "I believe there's not an absolute clear-cut rule about it.

"But we can't open the door to this thing happening every week. What kind of farce would that be? Everyone sending undercover people, drones etc into training. It would be farcical.

"Something has to be done. I don't know what it is, it's not my decision."

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Lampard felt Bielsa had acted against the spirit of the game and insisted he would rather quit coaching than employ the same tactics.

"Cheating is a big word," he added. "If you talk about details and gaining advantages, great and good managers do that.

"But this one is over the line. It's not just a toe over the line, it's a hop, skip and a jump over the line.

"I'd rather not coach than send people undercover on their hands and knees with pliers and bolt cutters to go and look at the opposition because I respect the opposition."

Additional reporting by PA